KODAK EKTRALITE 10 Camera

The Ektralite 10 was the entry model in Kodak's Ektralite range, a range of cheap 110-format point-and-shoot cameras launched in the late 1970s in order to provide casual photographers with a straightforward, flash-equipped improvement on the standard Instamatic 110 models. It included a fixed-focus 25mm f/8 lens (with a focusing distance of about 5 feet to infinity), a built-in electronic flash that could be turned on and off using a simple switch, and a sliding cover which protected the lens and the viewfinder when the camera was not in use; in later versions of the camera this cover was replaced by brightly coloured plastic casings (in pink, red, orange, purple, blue and yellow). A notable technical feature at its price level was automatic film-speed detection, since the camera would set the shutter speed (either 1/125 or 1/200 second) according to the film cartridge that had been loaded rather than asking the user to make any adjustments. Because of its minimal control options, its low original cost of $38 and its simple, robust build, it probably enabled Kodak to keep the model on sale with little change for more than ten years, remaining in production longer than more advanced models such as the Ektralite 30, which had a swing-out flash and a faster lens. Nowadays it can be found easily and at a low price in the second-hand and collector sectors, usually being wanted by hobbyists not so much for its rarity as for the memories associated with the snapshot era and for how easy it is to use.